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Crusty, scaly skin on chin, please help!
I'm a 20 y/o woman. I recently started getting little bumps on my chin. I thought it was acne, but these bumps grew into scales that randomly get extremely itchy and the surrounding area gets red. I've researched perioral, irritant, allergic dermatitis and none of these seem to show the scaling that I have. Exfoliation/picking makes them worse. I no longer use anything on my face, moisturizer never helped. I only brush with water now and eat healthy. No allergens.
Please help, I'm so desperate. My dermatologist didn't help (very prescription happy and has misdiagnosed me several times in the past).
Please help, I'm so desperate. My dermatologist didn't help (very prescription happy and has misdiagnosed me several times in the past).
Sorry for not answering your question. No, I had not visited the dermatologist following the incident described above. I fear going out in this cold weather will make my skin worse. Thanks again for your help.
Hello, thank you both for the helpful replies.
I originally had a small, dry patch of skin in the middle of my chin from not moisturizing (I know this because anytime I stop using moisturizer, I get dry patches that resemble seborrhic dermatitis, but upon application of moisturizer, it goes away- so I doubt it is a yeast overgrowth). If anything, I guess it was certain areas of my skin becoming dependent on moisturizer after applying it daily for years in certain locations (cheeks, forehead, chin). Dr. Zein Obagi discusses 'moisturizer addiction' more in-depth so hopefully that will explain it better than I do.
Anyway, I continued using my moisturizer and the flakes stopped completely. However, I went to my dermatologist for something unrelated (exfoliative cheilitis) and this is where my issues started.
She put A TON of what she said was Vaseline on my lips for the chapping. However, I feel like there was some sort of cortisone/steroid in the Vaseline because I know that upon stopping steroid creams, skin issues can come back tenfold. After the Vaseline wore off, this is what happened to my chin regarding the dry patch I would get from not moisturizing. Normally, it would just be a dry patch I could exfoliate, put lotion on, and never see it come back unless I stopped using moisturizer. But I started getting flakes on places that weren't 'moisturizer addicted', like the border on my bottom lip, where I had never put moisturizer.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that the steroid cream she put on me may have exacerbated my moisturizer addiction to the point where even places that weren't dependent on moisturizer began flaking. I experienced flaking before after not using moisturizer, but never the oozy, itchy, crusty type like I have on my chin.
My exfoliative cheilitis also got worse after the cream and I started getting little bumps on my upper lip. The giveaway that she may have used a steroid cream on my lips was the fact that I am now experiencing perioral dermatitis (little red bumps on my nasolabial folds) which I know can be triggered by steroid cream usage on the face. I never had perioral dermatitis until that visit to the dermatologist.
I know it's long but I did a lot of research in desperation, but I know I still am not as knowledgable as you guys so hopefully you can continue to discussing this with me. Thanks again for your help!
I originally had a small, dry patch of skin in the middle of my chin from not moisturizing (I know this because anytime I stop using moisturizer, I get dry patches that resemble seborrhic dermatitis, but upon application of moisturizer, it goes away- so I doubt it is a yeast overgrowth). If anything, I guess it was certain areas of my skin becoming dependent on moisturizer after applying it daily for years in certain locations (cheeks, forehead, chin). Dr. Zein Obagi discusses 'moisturizer addiction' more in-depth so hopefully that will explain it better than I do.
Anyway, I continued using my moisturizer and the flakes stopped completely. However, I went to my dermatologist for something unrelated (exfoliative cheilitis) and this is where my issues started.
She put A TON of what she said was Vaseline on my lips for the chapping. However, I feel like there was some sort of cortisone/steroid in the Vaseline because I know that upon stopping steroid creams, skin issues can come back tenfold. After the Vaseline wore off, this is what happened to my chin regarding the dry patch I would get from not moisturizing. Normally, it would just be a dry patch I could exfoliate, put lotion on, and never see it come back unless I stopped using moisturizer. But I started getting flakes on places that weren't 'moisturizer addicted', like the border on my bottom lip, where I had never put moisturizer.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that the steroid cream she put on me may have exacerbated my moisturizer addiction to the point where even places that weren't dependent on moisturizer began flaking. I experienced flaking before after not using moisturizer, but never the oozy, itchy, crusty type like I have on my chin.
My exfoliative cheilitis also got worse after the cream and I started getting little bumps on my upper lip. The giveaway that she may have used a steroid cream on my lips was the fact that I am now experiencing perioral dermatitis (little red bumps on my nasolabial folds) which I know can be triggered by steroid cream usage on the face. I never had perioral dermatitis until that visit to the dermatologist.
I know it's long but I did a lot of research in desperation, but I know I still am not as knowledgable as you guys so hopefully you can continue to discussing this with me. Thanks again for your help!
Coconut oil is very good against all sorts of ailments.
Perhaps you could use that on your skin problem to see if it helps. If you do decide to try the coconut oil, buy the Virgin coconut oil. Use it regularly for a few weeks to see if it helps.
I still feel that it may be a autoimmune problem so you should see your doctor to arrange some blood tests.
Skin problems are very hard to deal with so you will need to preserve.
Hope you find the answer soon so that you can get the appropriate treatment.
Did the dermatologist take an swabs of the skin to be analysed?
Perhaps you could use that on your skin problem to see if it helps. If you do decide to try the coconut oil, buy the Virgin coconut oil. Use it regularly for a few weeks to see if it helps.
I still feel that it may be a autoimmune problem so you should see your doctor to arrange some blood tests.
Skin problems are very hard to deal with so you will need to preserve.
Hope you find the answer soon so that you can get the appropriate treatment.
Did the dermatologist take an swabs of the skin to be analysed?
Have you had any blood tests taken to check for any abnormalities?
On Embarrassing Bodies TV programme, there was a person with a similar condition, but I can't exactly remember what the condition was called.
As you dermatologist was not very helpful, I suggest you go back to your own doctor to arrange some blood tests and may be a referral to a different skin specialist.
On Embarrassing Bodies TV programme, there was a person with a similar condition, but I can't exactly remember what the condition was called.
As you dermatologist was not very helpful, I suggest you go back to your own doctor to arrange some blood tests and may be a referral to a different skin specialist.
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The oozy, itchy and crusting on your chin sounds very typical of impetigo. Impetigo is very infections, so do not share any towels or pillows with anyone.
I know it will feel itchy and you will be tempted to scratch - by try not to scratch. Scratching will damage your skin further. To cool down the itching, splash on some cool water.
Make an appointment to see your doctor as you will need an antibacterial cream to treat this.